Really, every Haymitch Abernathy scene in the first three Hunger Games novels has to be revisited in light of the revelations of his back story in Sunrise on the Reaping.
Sunrise on the Reaping: Structure Notes
April 10, 2025 by 5 Comments
I have explored the structure of the first three Hunger Games novels, the Katniss Everdeen trilogy, and it’s worth a quick review of the approaches I found most helpful before we make the deep dive into Sunrise on the Reaping, the second prequel novel.
First the only thing Collins has said about structure in her few interviews was this:
This is standard three act drama language:
Inserting Mockingjay’s plot points into this structure, we find a neat fit: [Read more…]
Sunrise on the Reaping: Travel Thoughts
April 9, 2025 by 2 Comments
My wife and I are just back from five days outside Albany, New York, and I’m excited about writing up my first thoughts on the structures of Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping and the several possible interpretations of Louella/Lou Lou, Haymitch’s “sweetheart.”
Tonight, though, due to unpacking and laundry responsibilities, I want to share the picture above — I was in Orlando’s airport bookstore and noticed they didn’t have any copies of Sunrise; my wife guided me to the front of the store where the above display was clearly for the book-of-the-month — and a story.
We stayed at a hotel near the Albany airport on our way home because the flight was scheduled for very early in the morning. When I checked in, the very pleasant woman at the front desk said, “Oh, you have stayed with us before; welcome back.” I explained that this wasn’t possible because I had not been in Albany except for a brief stop at my wife’s friend’s home outside the city on our honeymoon in 1987. She insisted that she recognized my face and my name.
She was clearly no older than her mid-forties, so I took out the card holder my second daughter gave me when she graduated from college (we went to the same college).
I asked the woman at the desk if she loved to read books, especially better fiction. She allowed that she was an avid reader. I gave her my ‘Dean of Harry Potter Scholars’ card and said, “Among a very small group of very serious readers, I am a niche celebrity.” She looked at the card, smiled, nodded, and asked me if she could keep the card or if I wanted her to take a picture of it and give it back. I said she could keep it, took the magnetic key-cards for the room, and thanked her for her help. [Read more…]
Catching Fire – A Latecomers Impressions
April 8, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Catching Fire the second in Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy, with no need to explain the mechanics of the world, allows itself to play out as a mystery novel. I dove straight into this book, thanks in part to Collins masterful use of the cliff-hanger ending. So good is she at this, that it is very difficult to stop reading at the end of a chapter, and I usually found myself stopping mid-chapter when reading time finally ran out. The mystery running through this book, is what are Snow’s plans for Katniss Everdeen, and what, if anything, she can do about it. This gradually shifts into what are the rebellion’s plans for her, and again what, if anything, can she do. We realise that for all her fame and seeming importance, the only freedom and independence she has, is inside the tournament arena. Just as before the reaping, the only freedom and independence she had from her responsibilities, was outside the wire, hunting with Gale.
The mystery element is largely composed of the resistance, if it exists, and to what degree it is organised if it does. Snow clearly believes it is a threat, and Katniss could be a decisive element in threatening Panem. Given this, it is perhaps strange that he doesn’t just quietly arrange for an accident, and instead opts for controlling this dangerous element in an attempt to spin positive outcomes for the Capitol. The Quarter Quell (the third 25th anniversary Hunger Games) is to be reaped from the living victors in each district, so Katniss and her on-screen love interest Peeta are centre stage again. This again seems like a huge strategic error from Snow, and is my main quibble with the book.
One note on structure- so far each book is made up of three parts, each of nine chapters. Nine chapters to a part, nine parts to the trilogy. Collins has already completed two prequels. I do wonder if she has already contemplated a total of nine books of three trilogies…
Perhaps because the visceral cruelty of the games in the first book inured me, but I didn’t find the games in this one as shocking. Or at least only as shocking as the banality of evil of life in the districts. The romantic interest, other than as a tool for generating angst in our protagonist, also left me rather cold, but this may be due to authorial intention. Katniss, appears to see Peeta and Gale’s romantic attention as a distraction most of the time. Thanks, however, to masterful pacing and another cliff-hanger, I race on to Mockingjay!
Sneak Previews of New Ministry of Magic Attraction!
April 7, 2025 by Leave a Comment
On May 22, Universal Studios in Orlando will be officially opening its new Epic Universe Park. In addition to areas devoted to themes as diverse as Nintendo and the classic Universal horror movies, the park will add a new Wizarding World component, featuring Paris and the Ministry of Magic, to complement other pieces drawn from the books and films.
While a full ride through of what promises to be an amazing ride is probably in the future, for now, youtubers and other media types have been allowed to preview the Ministry and the set up story of Delores Umbridge’s attempt to escape, steal a time turner, and change history. Check out the amazing ( and huge!) Ministry and share your thoughts on whether you will be boarding a broom and flying to Florida once the park opens!
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